Linux Mint 7 (Gnome)
One of the nicer things about mintInstall in this release is Featured Applications which highlights some popular apps for users. While the list might seem basic or obvious to experienced Linux users, newbies might find some of the suggestions listed there quite helpful or at the very least interesting. I like this kind of approach for a desktop Linux distribution.
It’s important not to assume that everybody knows everything about every last Linux application ever created. Welcoming new people into the Linux fold by gently giving them an introduction to some useful apps is a very good thing.
Having said that we could debate whether or not the Featured Applications list should have more or less apps. I am in favor of not overwhelming people with too many especially people newer to Linux so I think the amount listed by default is pretty good. Your mileage may vary, however.
As far as mintUpdate goes, I’m glad its system tray icon no longer blinks. Let me tell you that I hate any freaking update prompt that bounces, blinks or otherwise distracts me. Don’t even get me started about the idiotic bouncing blue ball in OS X. Damn annoying thing, I can’t stand it. For a company that is supposed to be so slick, Apple does some stupid things sometimes.
mintWelcome is something that I initially was dubious about as I generally detest some stupid menu popping up in my face when I boot into an operating system. However, I cautiously endorse it as it is relatively sedate and does not overwhelm a user with choices. I think making the user guide, release notes and list of new features available is a very, very good idea. Especially for newbies.
And ditto with putting a forum link in the menu as community support is so very helpful for many people. And I have no problem with the Linux Mint developer soliciting donations either as the distro has to be supported financially somehow.
(18 votes, average: 4.39 out of 5)
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So you don’t lke blnkie-winkie-bouncie nags?? God for you! They drive me nuts!
Nice review on Mint 7, which is an exceptionally well done re-spin on Ubuntu. I do think it is as good an everyday Linux as there is out there, frankly.
One question tht a virutal machine does not touch: How does GRUB work with ext4? My impression from fedora 11 release notes is that GRUB is problematic with ext 4 and it requires an ext3 formatted /boot partition.
OK, if I could type I would have said “Good for you!” We’ll let God pick his on fights.
Hi Bill,
Yeah those bouncie things suck! Or flashing or whatever. Whoever thought those up should be smacked upside the head!
I’m not sure on the ext4 question. Hopefully Brian or someobody else will drop by and have a few thoughts about it.
Hi guys,
Maybe I can answer your ext4 question. I am running Linux Mint 7 on my pc. I have a separate / partition and a separate /home partition. Both partitions are formatted as ext4 filesystems. I do not use ext3 anymore.
GRUB has no problems booting the / partition on my desktop PC. I have been running Linux Mint 7 for several weeks now without issues.
Hope this helps,
Regards,
Mark
Hi Mark,
Welcome to DLR! Thanks for chiming in on the ext4 thing, glad to hear it’s working well for you. That’s good for folks to know.
[...] pitched it this morning and they linked to my Linux Mint 7 review over on my new Desktop Linux Reviews blog. Thanks so much Linux Today guys! It made my day to see [...]
i have always said.. when is GNOME… not GNOMISH..!! when it is linuxmint….. im not one for using the Gnome desktop.. it just feels old.. however.. i have switched to linuxmint on one of my pc’s at home.. it just feels to right.. i still have a place for KDE.. especially KDE4 no matter what anyone else says.. but linuxmint is defenelty a very very good distro….
Welcome to DLR, Pete. Nice to have you with us.
And welcome to everybody else who shows up later on too so I don’t spam the thread with welcome messages.
Guys, just so you know there is a KDE version of Mint available as well that puts Kubuntu to shame.
http://www.linuxmint.com/rel_felicia_kde.php
This edition of Mint KDE is based on Ubuntu 8.10. The next release, based on 9.04, is due out any day now. It will be released with KDE 4.2.4 and Amarok 2.1.
G2D2, thanks for that tip. I’ll add that to my list of reviews to do when it comes out.
BTW, a big thanks to Linux Today for linking to this review. I appreciate it a lot. It’s great exposure for such a new blog.
And if you haven’t visited Linux Today, you should:
http://www.linuxtoday.com